Frostbite is caused by cold and humidity and mainly affects the hands and feet. This is a skin lesion that can be very painful but is harmless provided it is well treated. In case of complications, it is best to consult a doctor to treat frostbite.
Frostbite occurs with cold associated with humidity, therefore mainly in winter, and affects the feet and hands, and more rarely, the face. They take the form of skin inflammation and cracks. Redness appears, then swelling of the affected limbs as well as burning sensations and violent itching.
Frostbite primarily affects the feet and hands, sometimes the nose and ears, because, due to the narrowing of blood vessels due to the cold, these are the parts of the body with the least blood supply. They therefore cool faster than the rest of the body and become a breeding ground for the onset of frostbite. Blood sent from the brain to warm cold limbs struggles to pass through the narrowed vessels and eventually damages them. This is when the symptoms of frostbite appear.
Frostbite must be treated with care and above all not be exposed to a source of heat suddenly. The first thing to do is to gently warm the part of the skin affected by frostbite by wrapping it in a warm, damp cloth for about 10 minutes. The affected areas can also be immersed in water at 35 degrees with the addition of two tablespoons per liter of hydrogen peroxide. If the affected area is on the hands, these can be warmed gently under the armpits.
Frostbite causes sometimes very intense itching, but it is important not to scratch so as not to cause sores on the skin, also called ulcers. This itching can be soothed by applying greasy creams rich in vitamin A.
No treatment exists to really cure frostbite quickly. In all cases, and especially if the pain is too intense and the lesions are very extensive, a visit to the doctor is essential. The latter can prescribe painkillers and medications to dilate the blood vessels and thus help heal the frostbite. On the other hand, when the frostbite is deep, that is to say that the skin is white and insensitive, hospitalization is necessary to treat the lesion.
Frostbite is caused by cold associated with humidity. To protect yourself against this, it is necessary to wear suitable gloves or socks which, on the one hand, insulate well from the cold and, on the other hand, keep these parts of the body warm. To avoid frostbite, especially on the feet, care must be taken not to wear socks or shoes that are too tight. Compressed feet are indeed more sensitive to the cold. The thickness, nature and impermeability of the soles of the shoes also contribute a great deal to avoiding frostbite.
To prevent frostbite, and especially for those most at risk, it is important to tone your circulatory system upstream. This is naturally possible by taking, for example, regularly, and before the cold period, alternating hot and cold baths. A preventive treatment based on vitamins D or A can also help prevent frostbite in the most exposed subjects.
People with poor blood circulation are more at risk of frostbite, as are those with Raynaud's syndrome. Taking certain medications can also promote the onset of frostbite. This is the case of vasoconstrictors, drugs intended to reduce the caliber of blood vessels, beta-blockers which slow down and strengthen the contractions of the heart or certain antidepressants. Endocrine disorders, deficiencies in vitamins B1, PP, A or P, can also be favorable grounds for the occurrence of frostbite.
A person who has already suffered from frostbite for a year is more likely to be confronted with this health problem again later. She must therefore follow all prevention advice to the letter to avoid frostbite.
